Powered by FOR A BETTER WORLD OF ENERGY IRELAND COMMUNITY FUND ANNUAL REVIEW 2019/20 1 CONTENTS FOREWORD Introduction to the SSE Airtricity CONTENTS Ireland Community Fund FOREWORD P2 Introduction SSE Airtricity and SSE Renewables are part of the SSE Group. SSE Renewables P3 Foreword 2019/20 has been a busy year for the SSE Airtricity Ireland Community is Ireland’s largest generator of wind Fund, which distributes funding from SSE Renewables’ wind farms P4 Funders Report 2019/2020 power and provides voluntary community across Ireland to community groups and projects, and in particular the funding in support of energy efficiency, P5 Bringing Communities funds associated with Galway Wind Park. We saw the completion of the safety and sustainability projects. This Together first round of the Galway Wind Park Major Projects Fund (launched funding is awarded to community in 2018) and the launch of our newest fund, the Galway Wind Park P6 This is Generation Green groups near SSE Renewables’ wind farms Scholarship Fund. in Ireland. The Community Fund for P7 Galway Wind Park Scholarship The Galway Wind Park Major Projects Fund was shaped following consultation with local stakeholders and is each wind farm is operated by its sister part of our commitment of making a genuine and lasting difference to the local area around the wind park. An investment of [€279,000) was made into providing energy efficiency upgrades to 47 homes close to the company SSE Airtricity, with the exception P8 COVID-19 of the community fund for Galway wind park helping local residents make a contribution towards meeting Ireland’s climate change targets. Wind Park which is a joint venture with P9 Galway Wind Park Major During 2019 is the award-winning Galway Wind Park Scholarship Fund. The fund is Ireland’s first ever wind- Projects Fund powered scholarship and is designed to provide third-level education opportunities for local people to gain Greencoat Renewables. The Galway Wind qualifications and build strong careers in the areas of energy efficiency, sustainability, environment, health, Park Community Fund was launched in P10 How to apply safety and social skills. Along with our joint venture partners Greencoat Renewables, we were delighted that the fund was recognized at this year’s Irish Wind Energy Association Awards (IWEA) where it won the “Wind 2018 and, at around €400,000 annually, Energy in the Community” award. is the largest community fund of its kind in P12 Breakdown of funding 2018/19 In March 2020, the coronavirus pandemic dominated everything. It really is remarkable how quickly Ireland. communities reacted and mobilised themselves and I hope that by making our funds available to help P27 Meet the team with the emergency response, it has helped to make things that little bit easier. As we are emerging from lockdown it is clear there are many challenges ahead, but having seen the positive effects that our funding has had with helping towards the coronavirus response so far, our objective is that the funds continue to play a part in helping communities in the recovery phase. However, this report is focused on the 2019/20 year as a whole. It is a summary of every grant awarded to every community group we work with. Over the year we have awarded €1,380,000 to community groups, charities and grassroots organisations. This report highlights how every penny has been allocated and showcases only a small number of the projects and people that have received support from wind farms owned and operated by SSE Renewables through the SSE Airtricity Ireland Community Fund. I hope you enjoy reading this report, and that like us you are inspired by the amazing work taking place in communities across Ireland. I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and good judgement, particularly the countless volunteers who play a huge part in every community. Mark Ennis Powered by SSE Ireland Chairman September 2020 2 3 FUNDERS REPORT LOCAL COMMUNITIES REPUBLIC OF IRELAND BRINGING COMMUNITY FUNDER’S REPORT COMMUNITIES TOGETHER Comhaltas Cosanta Pool Chuil Aodha, is an outdoor pool located in Coolea, Co Cork. The outdoor pool provides a romantic idea of being on holiday and welcomes a number of locals as well as tourists each year. The Chúil Aodha outdoor swimming pool was first built back in 1968 and has been providing a service to schools and local community members €1.38m for over 40 years. awarded to communities In 2011 as part of the Coomacheo Wind Farm In 2019 further funding was awarded to allow the across Ireland in 2019/2020 Community Fund, SSE Airtricity on behalf of sister facilitation of a disabled shower and changing rooms company SSE Renewables awarded Chúil Aodha over which provided the services required to allow those €40,000 towards a major heating upgrade to a highly who require these facilities to use the pool with ease efficient and modern heat pump which allowed them and made the experience more enjoyable. to become more sustainable, but also greatly reduced Siobhán Ní Laocha, Cosanta Chúil Aodha , said “the heating costs. funding received from SSE to date has been extremely positive for swimmers and families alike in the area. 33 In 2018 Cosanta Chúil Aodha applied for funding The upgrades to the heating system and facilities for towards a disability hoist to facilitate the safe access scholarships the disabled mean the pool can extend its opening and egress of those who require support to use hours, meaning more employment for locals and a awarded in the pool. better service all year round”. 2019/2020 from Galway €7.8m Wind Park provided to communities across Ireland since 2008 531 projects supported in 2019/2020 €329,000 of energy efficiency €130,000 worth of scholarships given to upgrades as part of awarded in 2019/2020 Galway Wind Parks Major Projects Fund 3,054 projects supported since 2008 4 5 COMMUNITY BRIGHT SPARKS THIS IS BRIGHT SPARKS In August 2019 SSE Renewables and Greencoat Renewables launched the GENERATION GREEN Galway Wind Park Scholarship Fund. This innovative fund is Ireland’s first We believe everyone can take small steps to help the environment. wind-power scholarship. The fund is designed to support students located Through education and awareness people can themselves can make within a 20km radius of Galway Wind Park. a significant difference. The stories below highlight a some of the The scholarship programme was created to help local Aedin O’Heocha Assistant Registrar at GMIT said: “The projects funded by the SSE Airtricity Community fund which will help students with their student fees and living expenses Galway Wind Park Scholarship is a welcome initiative sustain the environment for future generations. whist creating a pool of well-trained and experienced and will allow recipients to focus on their college professionals, transforming career prospects in course thus affording them the opportunity to excel Videos showing some of the local groups who have regional communities and positively impacting future in their studies”. generations. The Galway Wind Park Scholarship Fund improved their energy efficiency and sustainabilty with the 33 scholarships were awarded to recipients in 2019/20 is typically worth around €50,000 per annum and support of the community fund can be found at the link with over €130,000 awarded. Successful recipient “This is Generation Green” provides 50% grant support towards a student’s annual opposite, as part of the SSE Airtricity campaign on YouTube. Eileen Welby from Oughterard, County Galway fees for a maximum of three years. The Scholarship studying Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Early Childhood supports students attending Galway-Mayo Institute of Education and Care in GMIT Mayo campus said: “As my Technology (GMIT) and National University of Ireland course is very intensive I was worrying about working DROMORE WEST BEEKEEPERS (NUI) Galway as well as other educational institutions part time to fund the course and managing my studies. across the island of Ireland. In order to qualify for We at Dromore Bee Keepers love Receiving this scholarship has eased that burden and the scholarship, recipients have to demonstrate how to inform people about Bees and allowed me to focus solely on my studies”. their benefits to the environment. receiving the scholarship will add benefit to one of the There are over 100 species of Bees following areas; energy efficiency, safety, social and environmental sustainability, recreation and tourism in Ireland which play a part in the with education and skills development. ecosystem. We are very grateful to have received funding from the SSE Airtricity Fund to allow us to continue with our work The Galway Wind Park Scholarship Fund opens for applications each September for Jude Walsh students looking to begin their studies in the following academic year. WINDMILL PLAYERS TEMPLEBOY The support from the community fund has provided a space for ourcommunity to come together and do something they love. This facility gives people who might otherwise not see anyone for weeks on end the chance to meet up and socialise other people. It allows members of the community to integrate while doing something we enjoy. Joe Burns WEXFORD AQUA CLUB The beauty of diving off Kilmore Quay really inspires us to protect the environment. The wonderful marine life and the birds in this area are truly spectacular. We organize beach clean ups on a regular basis to do our small part for the environment. Ivan Donoghue 6 7 LOCAL COMMUNITIES LOCAL COMMUNITIES SUPPORTING LOCAL GALWAY WIND PARK COMMUNITIES MAJOR PROJECTS FUND DURING THE COVID-19 The Galway Wind Park Major Project Fund was launched in 2018 following a period of community consultation to help inform how the fund would (CORONAVIRUS) CRISIS be established.